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UNrreD STATES Armar rrrcn.

It. N. EAGLE, OF vVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

RULER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 53.96B, dated April 17, 1866.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT N. EAGLE, of the city and county ofVashington, and District of Columbia, have made new and useful Improvements in Rulers and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ot' the. nature, construction, and operation of the same sufficient to enable one skilled in the art to which itappertains to construct and use the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, which are made part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a ruler in which the ruling-edge is applied to the frame by insertion into its face between its upper and lower surfaces. Fig. 2 is a perspective view cfa ruler in which the ends of the wire are attened and bent around to embrace the ends of the frame.

Similar letters refer to corresponding parts in the different figures. p

The invention consists et' a cheap and effective mode of applying a sufficiently-hard metallic ruling-edge to a wooden frame, and thereby constituting a ruler.

The straight-edge is partially embedded into the face ofthe frame, is fastened thereto, and derives stiffness and support therefrom.

A is a frame, composed of wood or othersufficiently light and cheap material, of any required form. The edge C, applied thereto, is partially embedded in a groove therein. lts purpose is to form a guide for thepen or pencil in ruling lines. The edge C may be applied to more than one face, it' desired, and be secured to the frame by adjustable devices, or by any ordinarymechanicalmeans needless to attempt te anticipate.

The edge G, Fig.l,is applied to the frame by insertion within the kerf or groove, with the addition, it' required, of cement or wedges; or the edge may consist of wire embracing one or more edges of the frame, with its ends iiattelied to form a plate, which is screwed to the ends of the frame.

My object is to produce a ruler the siniplicity and efliciency of which, with economy of material a-nd cheapness of the method of applying the said edge to the frame, will enable the manufacturer to place them upon the market atas moderate a price as the plain wood ruler now in use, the cheaper styles of which are not furnished with a durable metallic edge, like the one I propose to introduce to the market, but must depend altogether upon the hardness of the wood used for its ability to wear and act efficiently as a ruler.

Among other advantages of my method I may cite that the metal is not weakened, its edge bulged, or its surfaces waved by the insertion ot' numerous rivets or screws, or the wood or other material composing the frame split or otherwise impaired by such insertions, but that, in fact, as the gripe ot the woiid or sides of the kei-t' or groove are et' themselves sufficient to hold and retain the metal edge in place, much expense is saved in constructing and no destruction of material occurs in rendering the article complete foruse. Furthermore, there is not the same necessity for absolute exactness or smoothness in the tinish ot' the frame or main portion ot' the ruler, whatever may be the material of which it is composed. The cheapest kinds of wood, for instance, may be used to advantage, thus enabling the manufacturer to turn out an article complete, durable, efficient, and at a price no greater than where hard and more expensive wood alone is used without a metallic edge.

The frame may be refurnished with edges without damaging the frame by their removal, and the said edges may be removed and redressed when they have become nicked.

An importantadvantage in this mode of applying the ruling-edge or guide to wood frames or rulers is, that instead of the said rulingedge or guide being applied at and to the upper surface of the frame, it is located between the upper and lower surfaces, and as near the lower surface as maybe practicable without weakening the frame or endangering the inking of the paper. This allows the peu to be supported nea rer to its point, and as the distance or space between the ruling-edge and paper is reduced., greater facility is afforded for ruling accurately parallel lines.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A ruler constructed, as herein described, with a ruling-edge or guide partially embedded in a frame of softer or less durable material, and deriving support below and above therefrom.

The above specification of my invention signed this 18th day of January, 1866.

Witnesses: R. N. EAGLE.

J @HN A. WIEDERSHEIM, EDM. F. BROWN. 

